Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-30
RIVAL BALLET QUEENS.
Two Principal Dancers Of the opera
Rehearsing Their steps Together.
philadelphia Press.l


The orchestra was rehearsing in the
Academy of Music, the band was toot-
ing on the stage, and in one Of tine
right wings, clinging TO cardboard
tree, and working her legs in a spiral
movement, was "A beautiful woman,
wearing IA little bodice of white silk rs
a protection to her ample shoulders.
That was Theodore de Gillert, a
principal dancer of the National Opera
Company.
In the opposite wing was rather pc
Gte young woman with blue eyes, at
tired in aMorsted jacketand remarkably
old satin shoes. She also was clinging
TO a pasteboard scene and practicing.
That was Maiic Giuri, likwise prin-
cipal dancer OF the National Opera
Company.
Both ladies were practicing muscular
eccenhicities 50 rs TO retain that supple
ness Of limb necessary for the due
gracefulness of their parts tonight in
Delites's ballet, "Coppelia.
q" / am in 'Lallme, you know, said
Mile. de GilleIt, rs she dropped into a
chair. "Giuri is in 'Ooppelia.' |
wonder if you Philadelphians will like
the new ballet as well as Boston did last
week. ItcTeated a fjWOrc"
But ara Philadelphia audiences so
cold, then ~
"Well. yes, if You ask me candidly;
Int you are fire itself in comparison
with Chicago. ] wonder the women
there did not come in masks. Yet they
tell me paDtomime dancing, such ~
Kimlfy gives, is popular Why can
they not learn the difference between
spectacular and classical ballet?"
SOCIETY CoRYPHEEs.
"But where did you learn your Eng
lish ?"
"In England. of course. was six
years at the Alhambra. used to be
awfully good friends with Paulton, the
'Erminie man. Then, you see / ala
n Russian Pole, and We all pick up a
language rs easily as other natives pick
UP penny.
But tell me, continued the Won
derful dancer in not less wonderful
English; " the other night | was in the
wings and | talked to one of the di-
rcctors of this theatre, and he told me
something that makes me think that
YOU Philadelphians like a ballet better
than you will allow. he said that a
dozen or more girls of your first fami-
lies were getting up private ballet.
and that they would shortly give
performance, with their own
friends-ladies. [ mean-for an au-
dionce, at the house OF one of
Your leaders of fashion. Oh, but he
assured me it was true he was not
joking. Why. they are to wear skirts
Just like our own and tights. The chief
dancers dress is to be red and the
tights black, and | understand she is
very charming and pretty aud all the
tights have been ordered from New
York. All but Won must not look
astonished. Maitre Bibeyran of ours
has plenty OF private pupils among So
cietv women in Boston and New York
for the ballet. The exercise is worth
what shall / say? MI the medicine
in the world. You have read. no,
doubt, that in Louis XIY.'s reign in
France ballets were the fayorite amuse-
ment of the great ladies. At grand
festival in honor of a prince the 'Tr-
umph of Love was danced with Ma
dame Ia Dauphine, the Princess de
Cont, and Mile. de Nantes as the
principal dancers, supported by the
Dauphin, tho Prince de Cont, and the
Due dc Ncrmandois Why, this very
style Of performance We give to-mor-
row, dramatic ballet (bdUcf dactioH),
was invented bya duchcss-the Duchess
du Maine, the very family after which
your Puritanical, watcr-drinkiug New
England State is named